Chapter 2 — "Just You Wait, Crown Prince"

(Maid) It's not the time for that, my lady. You have to have breakfast first. We don't have much time — after that we need to start preparations. Your bath, skincare, hair care, getting dressed — everything is pending.

The royal ball starts at 7 PM. You need to get up now.

Huh? What royal ball?

(Maid) My lady, it's your fiancé His Highness Crown Prince Henry's birthday ball. There's no time for questions — please hurry.

...Seraphina. Henry.

(Slow realisation)

Those are the characters from that novel. "The Fate of the Saintess Olivia Smith."

(Gets up slowly and walks toward the mirror)

(Stops)

(Seraphina has dark black hair and green eyes)

(Thinking: Wait. Is this actually happening? I went to sleep in my tiny apartment and woke up... here? In a novel I read last night?)

(Reaches out and touches the mirror slowly)

(Thinking: This face. This room. This is real isn't it.)

(Sits down on the floor quietly)

(Maid gasps) My lady, are you alright?

(Long pause)

(Pinches herself hard)

Ouch — okay. Okay. That hurt. So this is real.

(Thinking: I've read about transmigration a hundred times. Never once thought it would actually happen to me.)

(Something shifts)

(Slowly starts laughing)

(Gets up)

(Laughing louder)

(Shouts) Finally! FINALLY! I got out of that miserable life! Ha — who's going to do that donkey's work now?!

(Laughing at the ceiling)

(Maid stands frozen in terror)

(Cassion, Seraphina's older brother, throws a pillow hard from the doorway)

(Cassion) Keep it DOWN will you?! Have you finally lost your mind?!

(Cassion has black hair and amber eyes)

(Pillow hits face hard)

Aah — what the—

(Grabs pillow)

What do you think you're doing, you little brat?!

(Cassion) Who are you calling little?! I'm OLDER than you, you troublemaker!

Troublemaker? I was top of my class in middle school!

(Cassion) What are you blabbering about this early in the morning?! Go pour cold water on yourself!

Why you little—

(Charges at Cassion)

(Both start fighting — Cassion pulling her hair, Seraphina kicking toward his face)

(Several maids nearly faint, others desperately try to intervene)

(Duchess Serena appears in the doorway)

(Duchess Serena, sharply) STOP. Both of you.

(Both freeze instantly)

(Thinking: That must be Seraphina's mother.)

Mom — he started it!

(Cassion) That's not true! She was screaming at the top of her lungs first!

(Duchess Serena) You are both adults acting like children. What will Noah learn watching you two? You're supposed to set an example. Now. Both of you. Downstairs for breakfast.

(Both nudge each other with elbows)

(Duchess Serena turns with a sharp look)

Did I make myself clear?

(Both, immediately) Yes, Mother.

(Duchess Serena leaves)

(Cassion sticks his tongue out and walks off)

(Maid, still trembling) My lady... shall I help you freshen up? After breakfast you'll need to—

Yes. I know. Bath first, then preparations.

(Thinking: Alright Soo-Yeon. You're in a novel. Your name is Seraphina Williams. There's a royal ball tonight and a crown prince who's about to humiliate you.)

(Small smile)

Let's see how this goes.

(Goes downstairs and enters the dining area)

(Duke Thomas, Duchess Serena, Cassion and Noah all look up)

(Thinking: Right. I should greet them.)

Good morning, Father. Good morning, Mother.

Good morning, Noah.

And good morning to you too, Cassion — though you've already ruined it.

(Rolls eyes)

(Cassion) Whatever.

(Duke Thomas, firmly) Cassion.

(Duke Thomas has dark black hair and green eyes)

(Cassion, dramatically) Father, how could you?! Do you even know what happened this morning?! This is so unfair!

(Duke Thomas) She is your younger sister.

(Cassion) We're only one year apart! One year! This is completely unfair!

(Laughs) Grow up, Cassion.

(Cassion) Why you little—

(Duchess Serena) These two! Seraphina, don't provoke your brother.

But Mother—

(Duchess Serena) Enough. Sit down and have breakfast.

(Cassion, smugly) Ha. Serves you right.

(Rolls eyes)

(Duke Thomas) Seraphina dear, do you have everything ready for the royal ball tonight? If you're short of anything at all, tell Father.

I'm alright, Dad. Thank you.

(Cassion) The favouritism in this house is unbelievable.

(Duke Thomas) Cassion — I had that limited edition outfit you wanted imported from another kingdom. It arrived this morning. It's in your room.

(Cassion, instantly brightening) Really, Father?! Thank you, you're the absolute best!

(Noah claps his hands excitedly) I want all of us to look splendid tonight! The most splendid in the whole ball!

(Noah has ocean blue hair and amber eyes, just like Duchess Serena)

(Thinking: He is so unbearably cute.)

(Duchess Serena smiles warmly) Of course, my Noah. We'll all look wonderful.

(Duke Thomas) Alright. After breakfast everyone starts getting ready. I want everyone downstairs by 6:30. We leave by 7.

(Everyone agrees)

(Everyone heads back to their rooms)

(Alone in the hallway)

(Thinking: So tonight is the night. Crown Prince Henry brings that commoner girl to his own birthday ball and breaks off our engagement in front of everyone.)

(Slow smile)

I'll give you the most splendid birthday present, Crown Prince Henry.

Just you wait.

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